Cwmbran’s 50+ Forum has been awarded £450 from the town’s community council to take members on a Christmas coach trip.

Cwmbran Community Council’s grants to voluntary organisations committee met on Monday evening and discussed three new grant applications. Councillors agreed to support the 50+ forum’s request. Their decision will now go to their full council meeting for approval.

An application from the Severn Area Rescue Association for £4,776 for personal protective equipment was deferred for a decision by the full council. And an application from Pontnewydd Bowls Club for £10,000 for a computerised irrigation system was refused. Some councillors said that it was a large amount, half of their committee’s total budget of £20,000, and didn’t think it fitted with the aims of this grant scheme. Cllr Bill Walker, Llantarnam Ward, said a system like this was a “luxury”. It was felt the application didn’t have “overarching community benefits.” Councillor Kebba Manneh, St Dials Ward, said there was no “moral justification” for the grant being awarded.

Councillors agreed that the application form should be improved to help applicants be fully aware of the aims and intentions of the grant scheme along with an upper limit of £5,000. They suggested the form could advise applicants to chat to their local community councillor before being submitted.